Today I would like you to read some book reviews on NPR and The New York Times. Find two that interest you and do the following for EACH:
- Write the title of the book.
- Summarize the review.
- Explain whether or not you'd be interested in reading the book and why.
Vampires in the Lemon Grove
ReplyDeleteThis book is a collection of stories about vampires that face problems & learn how to fix them. Some of the stories include an old couple who have to face their fears of flying together, a young, outcast teenager who uses the nest of a seagull to communicate to the universe, & a war veteran who is healed by a massage therapist using the man's tattoo's to manipulate the images on his body.
Yes, I would be interested in reading this book because I really like dramas & this book just sounds like a big book of drama. Plus it's about vampires & everyone loves vampires.
Vow
This story is about a woman who finds out that her husband has a whole other life that has nothing to do with her. She tries to decide what to do since she, herself, has also been an adulterer in this marriage. She expresses her anger, guilt, & sadness for what she has done & what has been done to her.
Yes, I would this book because I think this is interesting. I can't see & never will be able to see how someone can cheat on someone that they love. No matter how down they are or how unloved they feel, they should never result to cheating. That's just like the easy road out. So yes, these types of stories interest me a lot. I love to know what people are thinking.
1. Vampires in the Lemon Grove
ReplyDelete2. The review explains that the author is a literary genius and mentions that she has other books.
3. I would be interested because of the enthusiasm the review has about the other and her works and I think the story itself sounded interesting.
1. Contagious: Why Things Catch On
2. The review talks about the author and what his book includes.
3. I would be interested because the review gives insight into what is in the book but leaves out just enough to catch my interest and leave me wanting more. It sounds like an informative yet entertaining novel which is a win-win. woo-hoo!
1. Umbrella
ReplyDeleteThis book is about a doctor temporarily healing some victims of encephalitis in a mental ward. There's a woman in particular, named Audrey, who used to build munitions and parts for the front lines of WWI. After the war she contracts the then-rampant disease and is confined to a mental ward for the next 49 years. The doctor (named Brusner) is able to interpret some of the patient's tics and odd habits. He uses a drug (L-DOPA) to temporarily cure them, but then they relapse. The end.I would definitely be interested in reading this book... psychology and sociology have always been very interesting to me, and I think a love story between a doctor and his insane patient would be something refreshing... no more of this Nicholas Sparks stuff.
2. Detroit: An American Autopsy
This book by Charlie LeDuff talks about how Detroit is essentially an awful place to live. The review says its very unbalanced and one-sided, but, whatever. The author interviews a police chief and gives some startling numbers on homicides in the city. He talks about the abandoned buildings and how run down the place is. He talks about an innocent girl who was killed in a police raid and how another little girl is completely ashamed of being poor... (as if she could help it?). I might read this book. The subject matter could easily be very interesting or very dull... depends on LeDuff's writing style. If he writes with pure facts, that's annoying. If he mananges to bring some emotion I can sympathize with into the story, it could be good.
1. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell is bringing in great reviews that talk highly of the new book serious that is considered mysterious and daring. One critic even goes as far as to say that this series makes Russell one of the greatest American writers of the young age. Another talks about how her writing always keeps the reader's mind moving.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this series has recieved many great reviews and an award from NPR, I don't think I'd be interested in reading this collection because I don't think it's possible for me to read an entire book series all the way through.
2. The Terror Courts by Jess Bravin has brought in a review that is neither bad, nor brings praise. The review on NPR is merely a summary of the story itself which is about the lack of morals and proper health given to these men being held in Guatanamo Bay, a maximum security prison in Cuba. However, the critic refers to this story as "a bona fide American tragedy."
This book didn't bring in any opinionated reviews from the critics, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. This story seems to delve in the American judicial system and expose more about than any common person would know. This makes it interesting to me. So I would have to say that I think this book would be a pleasure to read.
American Sniper
ReplyDeleteThe book is an autobiography of Navy Seal Chris Kyle, the single most deadly sniper in US military history. The book talks about how he killed insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan with surgical precision. It also tells of how he felt as a father and how he tried to help other veterans.
I feel like I would especially enjoy this book. I am getting ready to read No Easy Day, which was written by another Navy Seal about the killing of Osama Bin Laden. I feel that these two would parallel each other closely and would be very interesting to read.
Detroit: An American Autopsy
This book is a nonfiction look at Detroit and how it has deteriorated from a once mighty city to the current state it is in. It looks at how people have all but abandoned the city because of the lack of jobs and the high crime rate. It has a conservative leaning and could be seen and unbalanced.
I think I would enjoy this book. I have been to Detroit for mission trips before and have seen first hand how the city is falling apart. It is so bad and the crime rate is so high that the Detroit Fire Department is not putting out arson fires because of lack of funding and the sheer numbers of arson cases in abandoned homes. I would enjoy reading about how the city became how it is and how it might be saved.
Wise Men
ReplyDeleteThis review was just a basic summary of what the story was. It did not express opinion or show any bias. Basically the author just informed you what it was about, much like the back of the book could do, and left you still wondering if the book was good or not.
Based on this review I actually am not interested in reading the book. It seems like it will drag on and does not seem very interesting or capable of keeping my attention.
The Feminine Mystique
Reading this review I felt like I was talking to a friend and discussing a book they found interesting. She expressed her opinions and why. She gave a summary long enough to cover it but short enough to keep it interesting. Mostly though she made you feel like you have been missing out if you have not read this book yet. The book seemed to be so exciting and revolutionary. It was not all lollipops and gumdrops though, she was honest about how it would relate to today's society and generations.
After reading this review I am interested in reading this book. Maybe because I am a women or maybe because it seems so revolutionary to society.
Give Me Everything You Have by James Lasdum
ReplyDeleteThis review, by Scott Bradfield, summarizes the memoir of how James Lasdum was stalked by one of his students. He tells how Lasdum is a creative writing teacher and how one of his bright students begins to have inapporopriate behavior towards him after he has praised her for her accomplishments in class. She starts to send flirty emails and then takes it to the point of trying to ruin his reputation because he does not want her. I would definitely read this memoir. It seems engaging and interesting, especially since this can happen to anyone in real life.
Ghostman by Roger Hobbs
This review by Marilyn Stasio summaries the story behind a big time bank robber that is known to make evrything disappear. Jack messed up a big bank robbery and owes a large debt to a criminal lord named Marcus that you do not mess with. He has to clean up a mess for Marcus that involves violence on a grand scale. This book is full of gruesome murders that reveal a different side to the main character. I do not think I would read this book because it seems too violent for me. I like a good action novel or mysetry but this one seems like too much going on at once.
Book #1
ReplyDelete1. Life Among Giants
2. This book is about a boy named Lizard who witnesses the murder of his parents. He is a star football player who is being recruited by Princeton. His older sister, Kate, attends Yale and becomes mad after the murder of her parents. The neighbor's of Kate and Lizard includes a ballerina and her rockstar husband, who dies in the story. Throughout the story, Lizard finds out that the two households are more related than he thought. This is a story full of mystery, death, and affairs.
3. I think I would be interested in this book because it seems full of questions. The mystery in this book could pose some questions that would cause the reader to think about what is happening and what will happen.
Book #2
1. The Jackel's Share
2. This book is about a man named Webster who works for a corporate intelligence firm named Ikertu. He is assigned to meet with an Iranian gazillionare Darius Qazai. Information begins to be leaked on the Internet about Qazai and his past which causes Webster to go into a further investigation on Qazai. Webster feels as if Qazai is not a "clean" man and tries to find some evidence or clues to prove that Qazai is not an innocent man.
3. I think this story sounds interesting and could be a good book. I am still a bit confused on what the book is actually about, but I think it sounds like a good book full of suspense and mystery.
Vampires in the Lemon Grove
ReplyDeleteThe book is a about a vampire couple that is trying to find a replacement for blood. The stumble across a lemonade stand and their story takes off.
It doesn't sound too bad of a book, but I don't think it would be my first choice of books to read. It sounds too dull for me and that there isn't enough going on in the book to make me want to read more.
Life Among Giants
The story is a "romp" as the review described it. It is exciting and a page turner. It is about an orphan and his older sister trying to figure out their parents' murders. There are a few other surrounding characters involved as well.
I think this would be an interesting story. I would probably read this book because it sounds different. It wouldn't be my first choice again, but it would be up there on my to read list.
"Vampires in the Lemon Grove"
ReplyDeleteThis book got a fairly good review. The critic described this book as "making me care about vampires," The critic enjoyed the authors way of writing and liked the story line. This book does not follow the sappy love story as other vampire books do.
I would give this book a try. I enjoy fiction books. Plus, this book seems to be an easy read so time will not be sent thinking about the details and such.
"Life Among Giants"
The critic of this review liked this book as well. They called this book "a larger-than-life production" The story is a little complex by the sound of it but the book keeps you on your toes. All of the character's stories intertwine. The critic made this book seem like a really good book.
I think that I would like this book more than the other because I really enjoy mysteries and murder stories. This book has all of that plus more. I would read this novel
1. The Love Song of Jonny Valentine
ReplyDelete2. The book is about a young heartthrob named Jonny who is basically controlled by a group of adults who want to make him seem perfect, including his own mother. It is told from Jonny's perspective. Throughout the story, he realizes that he is being manipulated and his life is revolved around fame. He even has a fake girlfriend.
3. I would be interested in reading this book because it sounds like a contemporary story, which would be easy to understand. Also, I like the idea of the story and that it is told through the eyes of a young boy. It would be interesting to know what he is thinking through all this manipulation.
1. Give Me Everything You Have
2. The book is about a woman named Nasreen who attends Lasdun's workshop at a college. As Lasdun gives her feedback on her writing, she becomes obsessed with Lasdun, sending him numerous emails. She becomes more and more overprotective throughout the story. By the end, she goes so far as to try and "render" him, giving threatening information about him to sales reps.
3. I would be interested in reading this book. It sounds very suspenseful and I would like to know what eventually happens.
1. "Missing Out: In Praise of the Unlived Life" by Adam Phillips
ReplyDeleteThis book is nonfiction and discusses the human side - as opposed to the biological side - of the psychology of dissatisfaction among humans and how to deal with it. The review says that although Phillips is a practicing child psychologist, he uses more references from literature than case studies to support his ideas, so for more scientific brains, this book may not be a good choice. The review also states that his ideas are more about asking better questions than giving easy answers. I would definitely read this book because it sounds really interesting. I like knowing how people think and why they react to things certain ways. I think this book would be a really interesting read.
2. "Artful" by Ali Smith.
Its basis is a series of lectures on comparative literature from St. Anne's college. However, instead of being presented as just a series of lectures, they are shown in a fictional story, in which they instead appear as a series of essays by the narrator's dead lover. I would read this book because it seems really interesting to have a nonfiction work presented as a fictional novel.
Give Me Everything You Have - James Lasdun
ReplyDeleteIn this book, Lasdun teaches a writing workshop where this woman becomes obsessed with him. At first it's just flirty emails and such but soon she starts claiming that he is stealing things from her own novel and putting them in his. She comments on reviews of his work on various websites saying he plagiarizes. She writes letters to his boss saying he stole from her. Basically she tries to ruin his reputation.
I don't think that I would read this book because I feel like the review gave most of the details to it anyways. I like the idea of the story because it reminds me of the movie Prom Night but I feel like there really wouldn't be any suspending moments in it like there were in that movie so it would be a little bit of a disappointment.
Life Among Giants - Bill Roorbach
This novel definitely has a lot of stuff going on. There are these two kids whose parents are murdered. The story is told from the boy's point of view, who is a 6'8" "Ivy-League educated orphaned professional football player." The story also somehow includes a dead rockstar who lives across the street with his ballerina wife. The sister of the boy went to Yale where she lives with one of her professors and is slowly going crazy after witnessing the murder of her parents. Somehow, the death of the rockstar and the death of the parents are all intertwined. The reviewer wrote that "nothing is unraveled without revealing another jumbled mystery."
I would definitely read this book. It sounds intriguing and there is a lot going on so it keeps you guessing the whole time. I love a book that I can't guess the ending to and that is how I feel this book would be.
1. "The Terror Courts: Rough Justice at Guantanamo Bay"
ReplyDelete2. "The Terror Courts" is a book about military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. It was written by a Wall Street Journal reporter named Jess Bravin. The book centers on not only the abuse many detainees receive at Gitmo, but also the military's ability to cover it up. The book also talks about the bipartisan "acceptance" of these actions and society's policy of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Some say that Bravin's book reads like a political thriller, but it is actually something else, "a bona fide American tragedy".
3. I am actually really interested in reading this book. It's a topic that I've had an interest in for a very long time. I'm really interested in finding out what the author has to say about the topic.
1. "Gods Like Us"
2. "Gods Like Us" is a book by a film critic named Ty Burr. His book is about the cultural history of stardom. The book talks about the way films and film stars reflect and shape our cultural. It also compares how the stars of the past were less accessible then the stars of today and how fame is now devalued.
3. I think that I might be able to read this book. It's an interesting topic that, according to the reviewer, the author makes interesting through humor.
"The Dinner" by Herman Koch
ReplyDeleteThe review for this book is written by Rosecrans Baldwin. Baldwin starts by giving a brief overview of the book without giving away any important details that give away the whole story. He goes on to say that the book is pleasurable because of the secrets the reader discovers along the way. He also applauds Koch's use of the contemporary world saying that most writers are afraid to mention social medias and such in writing today because they're "exotic". Baldwin also says he enjoyed this book because it made made him think about what he would do if he were in the same situation as the characters in this novel.
I would be interested in reading this book because I like to try and predict what will happen next in mystery/drama stories. Also, not yet being an adult with children, I'm interested to see from a parent's perspective what parents think of their children and how they go about protecting them.
"The Last Runaway" by Tracy Chevalier
This review is written by Mary Sharratt. Sharratt gives an overview of the story and then goes on to say that this novel is a "quiet read" and has lengthy descriptions at times, yet she was still moved by the main character in the novel. Sharratt also says that some characters are flat and she wishes the author would have developed some of the characters a little more.
I think I would enjoy reading this novel because it's about the underground railroad which I've always found interesting. So, I would be interested to read about it from the perspective of a person who helped with it (even if it is just a fictional character and story).